You are using a new version of the IGI Global website.
If you experience a problem, submit a ticket to
helpdesk@igi-global.com,
and continue your work on the old website.

To Support Customers in Easily and Affordably Obtaining Titles in Electronic Format
IGI Global is Now Offering a 50% Discount on ALL E-Books and E-Journals Ordered Directly Through IGI Global’s Online BookstoreAdditionally, Enjoy a 20% Discount on all Other Products and FormatsBrowse Titles

As Part of Our Efforts to Assist Customers with More Easily and Affordably Obtaining Titles in Electronic Format, IGI Global is Now Offering a 50% Discount on All E-Books and E-Journals Ordered Through IGI Global’s Online Bookstore*

To support customers with accessing online resources, IGI Global is offering a 50% discount on all e-book and e-journals. This opportunity is ideal for librarian customers convert previously acquired print holdings to electronic format at a 50% discount.

*The 50% discount is offered for all e-books and e-journals purchased on IGI Global’s Online Bookstore. E-books and e-journals are hosted on IGI Global’s InfoSci® platform and available for PDF and/or ePUB download on a perpetual or subscription basis. This discount cannot be combined with any other discount or promotional offer. Offer expires June 30, 2020.

To assist you during the COVID-19 pandemic, IGI Global will convert libraries previously acquired print holdings to electronic formats directly through our InfoSci® platform, ProQuest’s E-Book Central, or EBSCOhost at a 50% discount. Send us a list of IGI Global publications you would like to convert, and we’ll promptly facilitate the set-up and access.

IGI Global offers a rich volume of content related to treatment, mitigation, and emergency and disaster preparedness surrounding epidemics and pandemics such as COVID-19. All of these titles are available in electronic format at a 50% discount making them ideal resources for online learning environments.

IGI Global is now offering a new collection of InfoSci-Knowledge Solutions databases, which allow institutions to affordably acquire a diverse, rich collection of peer-reviewed e-books and scholarly e-journals. Ideal for subject librarians, these databases span major subject areas including business, computer science, education, and social sciences.

Create a Free IGI Global Library Account to Receive an Additional 5% Discount on All Purchases

Exclusive benefits include one-click shopping, flexible payment options, free COUNTER 5 reports and MARC records, and a 5% discount on single all titles, as well as the award-winning InfoSci®-Databases.

MLA

Bui, Huong T.,et al. "UNESCO World Heritage Designation: An Opportunity or a Threat to Hoi An Ancient Town (Vietnam)?." Tourism and Opportunities for Economic Development in Asia, edited by Patricia Ordóńez de Pablos and Zeyar Myo Aung, IGI Global, 2017, pp. 250-260. http://doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-2078-8.ch015

Chicago

Bui, Huong T. and Tuan-Anh Le, and Chung H. Nguyen. "UNESCO World Heritage Designation: An Opportunity or a Threat to Hoi An Ancient Town (Vietnam)?." In Tourism and Opportunities for Economic Development in Asia. edited by Patricia Ordóńez de Pablos , and Zeyar Myo Aung, 250-260. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2017. http://doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-2078-8.ch015

Abstract

The chapter analyzes the impacts of World Heritage List designation on the local economy, residents, and environment in the Vietnamese site of Hoi An Ancient Town. Findings from the study raise concerns about managing heritage tourism in developing countries. While Hoi An successfully attracts a large number of tourists and enjoys economic success from tourism, social and environmental sustainability are in question. This case study demonstrates that management of tourism at World Heritage-listed sites is facing challenges of land speculation, inflation, commodification of local culture, and environmental degradation.

Background

Heritage, Heritage Tourism, and UNESCO World Heritage Designation

Recent literature on heritage study focuses on heritage connection to both the present and the future (Graham, Ashworth, & Tunbridge, 2000). Importantly, the modern-day use of heritage involves “a contemporary commodity purposefully created to satisfy contemporary consumption” (Ashworth, 1994, p. 16). Preservation of heritage links the past to the present and the future (Orbasli, 2000) by preserving not only the structure of buildings but also culture (Nyaupane, 2009). Heritage—in both its tangible and intangible aspects—is a critical resource for international tourism (Graham, 2002), particularly for developing countries (Garrod & Fyall, 2000).

Heritage tourism emerges as the most important economic activity in Vietnam (Lask & Herold, 2004). Two cities in central Vietnam—Hue and Hoi An—are examples of cities that have enjoyed both public relations and economic benefits from inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List (Bui & Lee, 2015). However, designation as a World Heritage Site might also present dilemmas to some destinations, as UNESCO emphasizes preservation—essentially “freezing” the heritage in time—dominance of a colonial vision of history, placing universal over local values, and issues of personnel (Avieli, 2015). Capacity to manage the site after designation is also critical, as a top-down approach may centering on tangible aspects while ignoring human aspects and culture. Tourism may introduce major social change, commodify culture, and impose unwarranted modernity (Harrison, 2004).

This chapter highlights the touristic use of cultural heritage as reflected in the experiences of Hoi An Ancient Town. In transitioning from a centrally planned to a market-based economy, the government of Vietnam sees heritage tourism as a powerful economic and diplomatic tool. Consequently, heritage preservation has received a great deal of attention relative to other cultural endeavors (Saltiel, 2014). However, the politicization of heritage property, driven by enormous economic gain from tourism development, often ignores the dark side of designation as a heritage site. Using the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An as a case study, this chapter evaluates the impacts of World Heritage List designation on economic, social, and environmental aspect of the historic town.